Improvement in washing-machines



THOMAS MCGUIRE MORRIS, 0F WABASH, INDIANA,YASSIGNOR T() HIMSELF ANDFREEMAN ALGER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,267, dated August 31,1875 application filed June 12,1875.

-new and useful Improvement in Washing- Machine, of which the followingis a specilication:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved washing-machine, parts beingbroken away to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe same, taken through the line rv w, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail insideview of one of the adjustmentheads. Fig. 4 is a detail outside view ofthe lower part of the same and its spring.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved washing-machine,which shall be so constructed that the oscillating rubber will adjustitself to the thickness of the clothes to be operated upon, which may beoperated either with or without a cover, and which will allow thestationary rubber to be emoved for convenience in cleaning the sud s-The invention relates to improvements in the class of washing-machineshaving an oscillating rubber, and a semicircular bottom for thesuds-box, formed of detachable blocks or pieces, withv a corrugatedrubbing-surface. The improvements consist in the construction andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

A is the suds-box, which is made rectangular in form, and is supportedby four legs, B, attached to its corners. In thevlower part of thesuds-box A is placed a detachable stationary rubber, which is made intwo parts, and is formed by attaching strips orcleats C to the concaveedges of the blocks D, which are so formed as to t into the corners ofthe said suds-box A, and the inner ends of which meet on an oblique ordiagonal line, as shown, so that when one (the right-hand) block hasbeen removed the other may be also removed. In cases where the`ends ofsuch blocks meet on a vertical line it is difficult or impossible toremove either without first detaching the strips which confine theirouter ends. The upper ends of the angular blocks D rest against cleatsE, which should vbe so formed as to correspond with the cleats C, andwhich are attached to the sides of the box A. The cleats C are madenarrow, have their outer sides or faces corrugated longitudinally, andare attached to the blocks D, with narrow spaces between them to allowthe suds to iiow through freely.

F are two levers, which pass down along the inner surfaces of the sideboards of the box A, and the outer ends of which are connected by around, G, which serves as a handle in operating the machine. The lowerends of the levers F are widened, or have cross-heads attached to them,the lower sides of which are curved upon the arc of a circlecorresponding with the arc of the stationary detachable rubber C D. Toand between the ends of the widened lower ends of the levers F arepivoted two rollers, H. To the curved edges of the widened lower ends ofthe levers F between the rollers H are attached strips I, which form the-actual rubber, the rollers H being designed to press down and smooththe clothes before they are rubbed by the strips I, to prevent thebuttons from being torn off and the clothes torn.

J is a shaft, which passes through holes in the levers F, and the endsof which enter and work in longitudinal grooves k1 in the inner sides ofthe arms ofthe adjustment-heads k. The upper parts of the arms of theheads k have slots k2 formed in them longitudinally for the passage of ascrew, which is screwed into the lever F, and thus keeps the said arm inplace upon, and in line with, the said lever F. The heads k are roundedoff. into cylindrical form, and lit and work in curved notches in themiddle parts of the edges of the side boards of the suds box A, wherethey are kept from lateral movement by pins cr anges attached to theside boards of the said box within the said notches, and which enter agroove in the convex surfaces of the heads k. By this construction theoscillating rubber can rise to adjust itself to the thickness of theclothes to be operated upon. Upon the outer side of the heads k areformed conical knobs 7c3, which enter holes in the upper A .parts of thesprings L. The lower ends of the springs L are attached to the sides ofthe suds-boX A. By this construction the springs L hold the heads k,.and prevent them from rising with the levers F as the rubber H 1 risesto adjust itself to the thickness of the clothes to be operated upon.The conical shape of the knobs k3 enables the heads k to be readilyinserted in, and withdrawn from, their places, when desired7 by pressingback the springs L. The parts M form the permanent portion of the top ofthe suds-box, and N nl n2 is the detachable cover.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The combination of the grooved, slotted, and knobbedadjustment-heads k,.and their locking-springs L, with the pivoting-rod Jand the levers F of the oscillating rubber H I, and With the suds-box A,substantially as herein shown and described.

` THOMAS MGGUIRE MORRIS.

Witnesses:

ALEX. HEss, JAs. H. WASHBURN.

